New Data on the Eumolpinae from Malawi with Description of Five New Species

SPIXIANA 43 1 63-79 München, Oktober 2020 ISSN 0341-8391

New data on the Eumolpinae from Malawi with description of five new species

(Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae)

Stefano Zoia

Zoia, S. 2020. New data on the Eumolpinae from Malawi with description of five new species (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae). Spixiana 43 (1): 63-79. A brief critical knowledge update on the Eumolpinae of Malawi is provided. Five new species of Eumolpinae Euryopini (Colasposoma (C.) langeri sp. nov., C. (C.) suturale sp. nov., C. (C.) collare sp. nov., Pathius daccordii sp. nov., Lefevrea fabianae sp. nov.) are described from Malawi and compared with related taxa. Colasposo- ma (C.) tinantae Burgeon, 1941 is reported for the first time for Malawi and its aedeagus is illustrated. Stefano Zoia, via Ponte Nuovo, 109/4, 20128 Milano, Italy; e-mail: [email protected]

Introduction P. (P.) torridus Baly, 1878 [Sub-Saharan Africa between 18° N and 30° S (Zoia 2007)]; The Eumolpinae fauna of Malawi is still poorly Mecistes thompsoni Zoia, 2009 [Malawi, Zimbab known. Referring to the list published in Zoia (www. we, Botswana and South Africa (Zoia 2009)]. chrysomelidae.it/afr_Eum – accessed November I recently received from Michael Langer (Nie 2018), the species so far known for Malawi sum up derwiesa, Germany) a few specimens for study, to 21 taxa. However, the presence of 15 among them which includes some recently collected Eumolpinae needs confirmation, as these were generically report- Euryopini from Malawi. Most of these belong to new ed for “Nyassa” (Lake Malawi) or “Nyassaland”, on taxa, their description is the object of the present the border among three different countries. Moreo- contribution. A further species is here reported for ver, this is the only known geographic indication for the first time for Malawi. All these taxa belong to eight of these taxa. Twelve of the above-mentioned the tribe Euryopini. taxa are more or less widespread in other countries With the present study, the number of Eumolpi- of Sub-Saharan Africa, too, with Heteraspis vicina nae species known from Malawi rises to 12, a very (Harold, 1877) reaching Yemen and Saudi Arabia. low number in view of the presumable faunal rich- The six species so far recorded from Malawi ness of the country. so far are: Semmiona woodi Bryant, 1941 [recorded only from the type locality: Chiromo]; Material and methods Platycorynus dejeani Bertoloni, 1849 [widely distributed in Africa from Ethiopia to South Africa, As for other published contributions dealing with the recorded for Malawi by Kuntzen (1913)]; same subject, the reported length of the specimens in- Pachnephorus (P.) crocodilinus Zoia, 2007 [Sub- cludes the head closely inserted into the prothorax. The Saharan Africa between 18° N and 30° S (Zoia 2007)]; ratio of frons width to eye width, in order to describe the dimensions of eyes in relation to that of the entire P. (P.) grobbelaarae Zoia, 2007 [Southern Africa head, is evaluated in frontal view along a horizontal line between 15° S and 32° S (Zoia 2007)]; at a level of the minimum width of the frons and the

63 corresponding widest point of the eye. The dissected distal border concave. Penultimate article of maxil- aedeagi are glued on a card pinned together with the lary palp nearly as long as wide, the ultimate conical, specimen; the dissected female genitalia are preserved nearly two times longer than wide and two times in a plastic micro-vial, pinned together with the speci- longer than the penultimate. Antennae (Fig. 23) men. slender, nearly reaching the distal third of elytra. Holotypes of the new taxa here described are depos- Antennomeres slender, 7th-11th slightly widened. ited in the collections of the Zoologische Staatssamm lung in Munich (Germany). Length of the antennomeres of the left antenna of the M holotype, in mm: 0.25-0.21-0.19-0.23-0.24- The following acronyms are used: 0.19-0.23-0.22-0.22-0.22-0.29; length/width ratio: MDcoll Mauro Daccordi collection (Verona, Italy) 2.2-3.0-3.1-3.8-3.6-3.0-2.7-2.6-2.7-1.4-3.1. MLcoll Michael Langer collection (Niederwiesa, Ger- Pronotum strongly convex, nearly 1.5-1.6 times many) wider than long (1.22 × 1.85 mm in the holotype), SZcoll Stefano Zoia collection (Milano, Italy) the maximum width slightly before mid-length in ZSM Zoologische Staatssammlung in Munich (Ger- many) males, near the basal third in females; the base finely bordered throughout, nearly so wide or a little wider than the distal edge; distal edge not bordered; sides Colasposoma (Colasposoma) langeri sp. nov. of pronotum, as seen from above, nearly regularly Figs 1-4, 18-25 bent throughout in MM, distally straightened in females, bordered; surface with moderately strong Type specimens. Holotype M (ZSM): Malawi/Nyi- and irregularly arranged punctation, the distance ka N. P. (2222 m) Zambian Rest House, S 10°34.4' / between two adjacent punctures smaller than the E 033°42.3' 30.XII.2009 leg. L. Friedman [printed white diameter of a puncture; the surface between the label]; Holotypus Colasposoma (Colasposoma) langeri punctures smooth; pronotum glabrous on discus, n. sp. S. Zoia det. 2018 [printed red label]. – Paratypes with a fine pubescence at sides; in lateral view, the (23 MM, 21 WW): Malawi/Nyika N. P. (2222 m) Zambian pronotum in MM is more strongly convex than in WW Rest House, S 10°34.4' / E 033°42.3' 30.XII.2009 leg. L. and with a more evident impression along the distal Friedman (1 M, 1 W ZSM; 1 M, 1 W MDcoll; 14 MM, 12 WW border. Pronotal corners extended into a low small MLcoll; 7 MM, 7 WW SZcoll). tooth bearing a seta. Diagnosis. A brachypterous Colasposoma Laporte, Scutellum semicircular, nearly two times wider 1833 of small size and metallic green coloration, than long, smooth, with a few punctures or totally characteristic in the transversal distal impression of impunctate. pronotum in males, short convex elytra, presence of Surface of hypomera smooth, slightly plicate, tubercles and a carina on each elytron of WW. with a few light punctures, the distal margin straight, not produced frontward, not separated from the Description edge of prosternum which is regularly concave. Prosternum nearly 1.4 times longer than wide Habitus as in Figures 1-2; body length of the M between the procoxae, surface strongly convex in holotype 3.2 mm, of the MM paratypes 2.8-3.7 mm, middle, finely punctured and with a long hyaline of the WW paratypes 2.9-3.7 mm. pubescence. Ventral side of body with sparse and Body dark brown to black, the abdomen with a thin setae present on the meso- and metasternum light greenish metallic hue; hypomera in large part and on the abdominal sternites. metallic green; dorsum and head metallic green, Mesoventrite nearly 1.3 times longer than wide scutellum and adjacent edge of elytral base usually between the mesocoxae, finely punctured and pu- with golden reflections; in a few females the whole bescent; mesocoxae closer to each other than the dorsum with golden reflections or totally metal- procoxae; mesoepimera smooth, with a very fine lic reddish-brown; labrum, mandibles and palpi 1 microreticulation. Metaventrite in its middle /2 reddish-brown; antennae brown, the 1st segment th th shorter than the space between the procoxae, punc- at least partially metallic, segments 7 -11 darker. tured, finely rugose; metacoxae a little more spaced Frons (Fig. 3) large, slightly convex; surface with dense punctation, the punctures relatively Figs 1-4. 1-3. / small in diameter and impressed, with a very short Colasposoma (C.) langeri sp. nov. M holotype; 1. dorsal view; 2. lateral view; 3. head. 4. W para- pubescence; eyes small, strongly convex, the space type, elytral sculpture. between the inner border of the eyes in frontal view Figs 5-7. Colasposoma (C.) suturale sp. nov., M holotype; is nearly 7 times the width of an eye; ocular sulci 5. dorsal view; 6. lateral view; 7. head. absent; clypeus not distinct from the frons and with Figs 8-10. Colasposoma (C.) collare sp. nov., M holotype; a somewhat stronger and confluent punctation, its 8. dorsal view; 9. lateral view; 10. head.

64 65 than mesocoxae; metathoracic episterna tapering to Comparative notes. Main distinctive characteristics rear, nearly 3 times longer than wide, with a fine of C. (C.) langeri sp. nov. are the small body size, microreticulation. the distally transversely impressed pronotum, the Elytra strongly convex, 1.1 times longer than short elytra with sides regularly bent throughout, wide (in the holotype: elytral length in dorsal view starting from their base, and the peculiar sculpture 1.87 mm, distance from the base of scutellum to of the elytra in females. C (C.) langeri sp. nov. is elytral apex 2.2 mm; width at base 1.75 mm, maxi- presumably close to C. (C.) wittei Burgeon, 1941a mum width 2 mm); elytral sides a little widening (Katanga; holotypus examined at the Musée royal from the humeri to about one third of their length, de l’Afrique centrale, Tervuren) in its habitus, in then regularly bent till the apices; apices in a slightly the reduced metathoracic wings and the presence acute angle, somewhat more acute in WW. In MM the of a longitudinal carina on each elytron of females. elytral punctation is stronger than on pronotum C. (C.) wittei clearly differs in a duller coloration of and less close, it is partially arranged in irregular dorsum, particularly of elytra, with a finer puncta- striae and equally impressed on the whole surface. tion, a wider and less convex pronotum, not transver- In WW the elytral punctation is somewhat finer and sally impressed distally and with distal edge finely more confusedly arranged except for a few nearly bordered throughout, proportionally shorter elytra, a regular striae near the suture on the apical slope less elevated carina on the elytra of female from the and near the elytral sides. Elytral surface smooth, humeri to rear and the absence of additional tuber- shining, regularly convex in MM; in WW (Fig. 4) the cles, apex of aedeagus more sinuate in lateral view elytral surface shows two double small tubercles (the holotype has the aedeagus partially exposed). along a longitudinal line in its basal third, a carina Other small metallic species of Colasposoma, differ starting from the humerus and reaching the base more in their general habitus, with evident humeral of the apical slope and a series of small tubercles calli, and fully developed metathoracic wings. In present at the external side of the carina and going C. (C.) pusillum Jacoby, 1904 (Natal; syntypes exam- from mid length of the elytron till half apical slope. ined at the Natural History Museum, London) and Elytral borders wide and visible in dorsal view at C. (C.) parvulum Lefèvre, 1890 (Transvaal; holotype the same time from the humeri to the level of the examined at the Musée National d’Histoire Na- 2nd sternite, gradually tapering to rear. Epipleura turelle, Paris) the pronotum is nearly 2 times wider moderately wide at the base, gradually tapering to than long, the elytral sides are nearly parallel in rear, glabrous, smooth, impunctate. their basal third, body is metallic green; moreover Brachypterous, metathoracic wings hardly reach- in C. pusillum the elytral surface in WW is slightly ing the elytral apex. transversally corrugated at sides, without any carina Legs relatively long; femora moderately swollen, or tubercle, and antennae are brown with only the more so the profemora, unarmed or each with a very apices of last antennomeres somewhat darkened; in small acute tooth; protibiae longer than meso- and C. (C.) parvulum the legs are yellow ocher with knees metatibiae, particularly in MM, nearly straight, meso and apices of tarsomeri metallic. tibiae slightly bent inwards, meso- and metatibiae not emarginate near the apex. Pro- and mesotarsi widened in male (Fig. 22). Claws bifid, the inner Colasposoma (Colasposoma) tinantae tooth thin, short, starting from nearly mid length Burgeon, 1941a of the claw. Figs 26-29 Aedeagus as in Figures 18-19; tegmen (Fig. 20) wide, sclerotized, distally with short lateral arms Examined material. Malawi/Viphya Mts. (1617 m) hardly embracing the sides of the median lobe; 12 km SW Chikangawa S 11°57.7' / E 033°44.6' 25.XII.2009 ventral sclerite of sternite IX as in Figure 21. leg. L. Friedman (6 MM, 3 WW). Spermatheca as in Figure 24 with spermathecal Note. The species is new for the fauna of Malawi gland twice as long as the spermathecal length; and this is the first citation after the original descrip- vagina without evident sclerotizations; styli short, tion. Colasposoma (C.) tinantae (holotype and allotype moderately thin, sclerotized, spiculum gastrale thin examined at the Musée royal de l’Afrique centrale, and moderately long (Fig. 25). Tervuren) was described from Kundelungu (holo- Derivatio nominis. I am pleased to name the new spe- type) and Lukafu (Parc National de Kundelungu) cies after Michael Langer who provided me with the and from Nieuwdorp (allotype) (South-Eastern specimens object of the present study. Democratic Republic of Congo). Males here examined are uniformly metallic green on dorsum, the three females are uniformly dark metallic bronze,

66 Figs 11-13. Pathius daccordii sp. nov., M holotype; 11. dorsal view; 12. lateral view; 13. head. Figs 14-17. Lefevrea fabianae sp. nov. 14-15. W holotype; 14. dorsal view; 15. lateral view. 16-17. M paratype; 16. pronotum and head; 17. head.

67 with a metallic green hue mostly on elytral sides. Description Aedeagus (not described by Burgeon (1941a)) as Habitus as in Figures 5-6; body length of the M in Figures 26-27; tegmen (Fig. 28) thin, moderately holotype 3.7 mm, of the MM paratypes 3.3-3.9 mm; sclerotized, distally with lateral arms hardly embrac- female unknown. ing the sides of the median lobe; ventral sclerite of Body reddish brown along the ventral median sternite IX as in Figure 29. line, mesosternum, metasternum and abdomen more Burgeon (1941a) compared C. (C.) tinantae with or less widely metallic green at sides; hypomera C. (C.) varendorffi Weise, 1914 (Namibia: Windhoek). reddish-brown; head and pronotum reddish-brown, I do not know in nature C. (C.) varendorffi; based on the latter with metallic greenish or bluish hue at sides; the description, the two taxa seem to be very close elytra yellow ocher, each elytron with a dark brown and hardly distinguishable. stripe along the suture, a dot of the same colour in Weise (1914) compared C. (C.) varendorffi, with the elytral sub-basal impression, a dark brown stripe C. (C.) pusillum and C. (C.) parvulum, two species of with evident metallic green reflections along the relatively small size and with elytral sides subpar- side which does not reach the elytral apex; labrum allel in their basal third. The same characteristics and palpi yellow ocher, mandibles brown; antennae are present in C. (C.) tinantae. C. (C.) pusillum (M) yellow ocher, segments 7th-11th dark brown. differs in the pronotum more globose and more Frons (Fig. 7) large, slightly convex; surface with widened in its middle, lacking distal transversal moderately strong punctation, the distance between impression (in C. (C.) tinantae this impression is two adjacent punctures narrower than the diameter evident although light), elytra proportionally shorter, of a puncture, at sides above the eyes the punctures body metallic green (blackish with metallic hue in are partially convergent and with a very short, hardly C. (C.) tinantae), femora metallic green, tibiae darker visible pubescence; eyes moderately large, strongly and at least partially metallic (legs entirely ocher convex, the space between the inner border of the brown in C. (C.) tinantae), longer and bent inward. eyes in frontal view is nearly 3.7 times the width of C. (C.) parvulum (M) differs in the proportionally an eye; ocular sulci absent, a seta is inserted near the smaller pronotum with a less dense punctation, proximal border of the eye; clypeus hardly distinct more corrugated surface in the sub-basal impressions from the frons by an inverted V-shaped low sulcus; of elytra, metallic green body, legs with knees and punctation of clypeus a little stronger than on frons, apices of tarsomeri metallic. distal border concave. Penultimate article of maxil- A second species mentioned by Burgeon (1941a), lary palp nearly as long as wide, the ultimate conical, C. (C.) tibiale Baly, 1878 (Lake Nyassa), greatly differs nearly 2 times longer than wide and 2 times longer in its habitus, pubescent pronotum, more oblong than the penultimate. Antennae (Fig. 34) slender, elytra and elytral sculpture. exceeding the elytral mid-length. Antennomeres slender, 7th-11th slightly widened. Length of the Colasposoma (Colasposoma) suturale sp. nov. antennomeres of the left antenna of the M holotype Figs 5-7, 30-35 (right antenna missing), in mm: 0.21-0.17-0.17-0.25- 0.19-0.17-0.22-0.22-0.23-0.23-0.27; length/width Type specimens. Holotype M (ZSM): Malawi/Nyika N. ratio: 1.9-2.3-2.8-3.6-3.2-2.7-2.5-2.2-2.3-2.1-2.7. P. (2189 m) Zovo-Chipolo Forest, S 10°34.5' / E 033°42.4' Pronotum strongly convex, strongly impressed 28.-31.XII.2009 leg. L. Friedman [printed white label]; along the distal edge, nearly 1.6 times wider than Holotypus Colasposoma (Colasposoma) suturale n. sp. S. long (0.95 × 1.55 mm in the holotype), the maximum Zoia det. 2018 [printed red label]. – Paratypes (5 MM): width at the basal third; the base finely bordered Malawi/Nyika N. P. (2.189 m) Zovo-Chipolo Forest, throughout, nearly so wide as the distal edge; dis- S 10°34.5' / E 033°42.4' 28.-31.XII.2009 leg. L. Friedman tal edge not bordered; sides of pronotum, as seen (1 M ZSM; 2 MM MLcoll; 2 MM SZcoll). from above, slightly bent distally, more strongly Diagnosis. A Colasposoma of small size characteristic bent proximally, border moderately wide; surface in the oblong, nearly parallel sided yellow ocher with moderately strong and irregularly arranged elytra, each elytron with a brown stripe along the punctation, the distance between two adjacent suture, a rounded spot in the sub-basal impression punctures smaller than the diameter of a puncture; and a brown stripe with a metallic green hue along the surface between the punctures smooth; surface the lateral margin. glabrous. Corners of pronotum with a small tooth bearing a seta. Scutellum semi-oval, slightly wider than long, surface smooth with a very fine microreticulation. Surface of hypomera smooth, slightly plicate,

68 Figs 18-25. 18. Colasposoma (C.) langeri sp. nov. 18-23. M holotype; 18. aedeagus, dorsal view; 19. aedeagus, lateral view; 20. tegmen; 21. ventral sclerite of sternite IX; 22. left protarsus; 23. left antenna. 24-25. W paratype; 24. sperma theca; 25. genital segment.

69 proximally with a few punctures, the distal mar- Comparative notes. C. (C.) suturale sp. nov. shows a gin slightly concave, not produced frontward, not peculiar combination of characters: small size, oblong separated from the edge of prosternum which is elytra with sub-parallel sides up to nearly mid- regularly concave. Prosternum nearly as long as wide length, elytral coloration. At first sight it somewhat between the procoxae, surface nearly flat in middle, recalls in its habitus C. (C.) hajeki Zoia, 2012 (Socotra finely rugose and with a long hyaline pubescence. Island; holotype in Natural History Museum, Praha), Ventral side of body with sparse and thin setae yet the latter is bigger in size, pronotum has no trans- present on the meso- and metasternum and on the versal impression next to the distal border, hypomera abdominal sternites. are punctured, scutellum is metallic green and elytra Mesoventrite nearly 1.7 times longer than wide have poorly marked sub-basal impressions and no between the mesocoxae, with irregular punctation darker spots at all. 1 and pubescent; mesocoxae /3 closer to each other C. (C.) monticola Weise, 1910 (Kilimandjaro; syn- than the procoxae; mesoepimera smooth, with a type examined at the Museum für Naturkunde, very fine microreticulation. Metaventrite wide, its Berlin) differs in the bigger size, narrower and less length in the middle nearly 1.6 times the distance transverse pronotum, brown elytra without darker between the metacoxae, smooth, impunctate; meta- spots and with the punctures marked by a metallic coxae nearly so spaced as mesocoxae; metathoracic greenish colour. episterna tapering to rear, nearly 3 times longer than wide, with a fine microreticulation and sparse not well defined punctation, glabrous. Colasposoma (Colasposoma) collare sp. nov. Elytra moderately convex on the discus with a Figs 8-10, 36-43 moderate impression in the middle of the basal third, nearly vertical at sides in their basal half below the Type specimens. Holotype M (ZSM): Malawi/Nyika N. humeri, 1.2 times longer than wide (in the holotype: P. (2189 m) Zovo-Chipolo Forest S 10°34.5' / E 033°42.4' elytral length in dorsal view 2.45 mm, distance from 28.-31.XII.2009 leg. L. Friedman [printed white label]; the base of scutellum to elytral apex 2.65 mm; width Holotypus Colasposoma (Colasposoma) collare n. sp. S. Zoia det. 2018 [printed red label]. – Paratypes (1 M, 1 W): at humeri 1.82 mm, maximum width 1.95 mm); Malawi/Nyika N. P. (2.189 m) Zovo-Chipolo Forest humeri prominent, rounded; elytral sides a little S 10°34.5' / E 033°42.4' 28.-31.XII.2009 leg. L. Friedman widening from the humeri to about two thirds of their (1 M MLcoll; 1 W SZcoll). length, then regularly bent till the apices; apices in a slightly obtuse angle. Elytral punctation somewhat Diagnosis. A Colasposoma of medium size character- larger and more spaced than on pronotum, it is istic in the elytra oblong, with sides nearly parallel partially arranged in irregular striae and impressed in their basal half, yellow ocher with metallic green on the whole elytral surface. Elytral surface smooth, spots including on each elytron a narrow stripe along glabrous. Elytral lateral borders wide and visible in the suture, a spot in the sub-basal impression, a wide dorsal view at the same time up to the level of the spot at the outer side of apical slope and on part of 2nd sternite, gradually tapering to rear. Epipleura the lateral margin. moderately wide at the base, gradually tapering to rear, glabrous, smooth, impunctate. Description Metathoracic wings fully developed. Habitus as in Figures 8-9; body length of the M Legs relatively long; femora moderately swol- holotype 4.6 mm, of the M paratype 5.0 mm, of the len, more so the profemora, armed each with a W paratype 4.6 mm. small acute tooth; protibiae longer than meso- and Body ocher brown, in the two MM the abdomen is metatibiae, pro- and mesotibiae slightly bent in- widely dark brown at sides; hypomera in large part wards, metatibiae straight, meso- and metatibiae metallic green; head and pronotum metallic green, not emarginate near the apex. Pro- and mesotarsi in the two paratypes with clypeus and discus of the moderately widened (M) (Fig. 35). Claws bifid, the prothorax ocher brown due to their being slightly inner tooth thin, short, starting from the basal third immature; labrum and mandibles reddish-brown, of the claw. palpi yellow ocher; antennae yellow ocher, segments Aedeagus as in Figures 30-31; tegmen (Fig. 32) 7th-11th partially dark brown; elytra ocher brown with thin, moderately sclerotized, distally with lateral some metallic hue, each elytron with the suture, a arms hardly embracing the sides of the median lobe; nearly semicircular spot in the sub-basal impression, ventral sclerite of sternite IX as in Figure 33. an oblong wide spot at side of the apical slope and Derivatio nominis. The name suturale refers to the dark the lateral border in large part of its length metallic brown stripe along the elytral suture. green (the last two spots joined in a single spot in the M holotype).

70 Figs 26-29. Colasposoma (C.) tinantae Burgeon (Malawi, Viphya Mts.); 26. aedeagus, dorsal view; 27. aedeagus, lateral view; 28. tegmen; 29. ventral sclerite of sternite IX. Figs 30-35. Colasposoma (C.) suturale sp. nov., M holotype; 30. aedeagus, dorsal view; 31. aedeagus, lateral view; 32. tegmen; 33. ventral sclerite of sternite IX; 34. left antenna; 35. left protarsus.

71 1 Frons (Fig. 10) large, nearly flat in its middle, mesocoxae /3 closer to each other than the procoxae; convex at sides, with a light longitudinal sulcus mesoepimera smooth, with a fine microreticulation. along the median line; surface with moderately Metaventrite wide, in its middle nearly 1.6 times fine punctation, the distance between two adjacent longer than the space between the metacoxae, punctures in the middle of the frons is nearly 2 times smooth, not punctured; metacoxae nearly so spaced the diameter of a puncture, at sides and above the as mesocoxae; metathoracic episterna tapering to eyes the punctures are oblong and transversally rear, nearly 3.5 times longer than wide, finely and convergent, with a fine pubescence; eyes moder- sparsely punctate and rugose, glabrous. ately large, strongly convex, protuberant, the space Elytra moderately convex on the discus with an between the inner border of the eyes in frontal evident sub-basal impression, nearly vertical at sides view is nearly 3.2 times the width of an eye; ocular below the humeri, 1.3 times longer than wide (in sulci absent, a seta is inserted above the proximal the holotype: elytral length in dorsal view 3.16 mm, border of the eye; clypeus distinct from the frons distance from the base of scutellum to elytral apex by a reverse V-shaped light impression; punctation 3.56 mm; width at humeri 2.39 mm, maximum width of clypeus strong proximally, finer distally, distal 2.48 mm); humeri slightly prominent, rounded, border concave. Penultimate article of maxillary palp smooth, covering the elytral border in dorsal view; nearly as long as wide, the ultimate conical, nearly elytral sides a little widening from the humeri to 2 times longer than wide and two times longer than about half elytral length, then regularly bent till the the penultimate. Antennae (Fig. 41) slender, reaching apices; apices in a nearly right angle; in W an acute nearly the elytral mid-length in M, the elytral basal longitudinal carina is present from the humerus to third in W. Antennomeres slender, 7th-11th slightly the basal third of elytral length, followed by a slightly widened. Length of the antennomeres of the left lower carina, in a position slightly closer to the elytral antenna of the M holotype (right antenna partially side, which reaches the elytral apical slope. Elytral missing), in mm: 0.29-0.20-0.26-0.32-0.31-0.24- punctation somewhat larger than on pronotum, the 0.31-0.28-0.28-0.28-0.34; length/width ratio: 2.1- distance between two adjacent punctures on aver- 2.3-3.3-4.6-3.9-3.0-2.8-2.5-2.7-2.4-2.9. age nearly as wide as the diameter of a puncture; Pronotum convex, in M with an evident transver- punctation confusedly arranged on the base of the sal impression along the distal edge which is lighter elytra and in their sub-basal impressions, arranged in W, nearly 1.7 times wider than long (1.30 × 2.20 mm in nearly regular striae elsewhere. Elytral surface in the holotype), the maximum width at about mid smooth, glabrous. Elytral borders relatively wide and length in MM, at the basal third in W; the base finely visible in dorsal view at the same time from behind bordered throughout, a little wider than the distal the humeri up to the level of the distal margin of edge; distal edge not bordered; lateral edges, as seen the 2nd sternite, gradually tapering to rear. Epipleura from above, regularly bent, border moderately wide moderately wide at base, gradually tapering to rear, and regular; surface with impressed, irregularly glabrous, smooth, impunctate. arranged punctation, the distance between two ad- Metathoracic wings fully developed. jacent punctures on average nearly so wide as the Legs relatively long; femora moderately swol- diameter of a puncture; the surface between the len, more so the profemora in MM, each femur with punctures smooth; surface glabrous, on the pronotal a small acute median tooth which is smaller on sides with a hardly visible short pubescence. Corners the metafemora; protibiae longer than meso- and of base of pronotum protruded in a small tooth, the metatibiae, longer and moderately bent inwards distal corners not protruded, each with a seta. in MM, nearly straight in W; mesotibiae slightly bent Scutellum semi-oval, nearly 1.2 times longer than inwards, metatibiae straight, meso- and metatibiae wide, surface smooth with a few punctures. not emarginate near the apex. Pro- and mesotarsi Surface of hypomera smooth, impunctate, shiny, widened in MM (Fig. 40). Claws bifid, with the inner the distal margin slightly concave, not produced tooth short, hardly reaching half-length of the outer frontward, not separated from the edge of pro tooth, starting at the basal fourth of the claw. sternum which is regularly concave. Prosternum Aedeagus as in Figures 36-37; tegmen (Fig. 38) in its mid-line 1.2 times longer than wide between thin, moderately sclerotized, distally with lateral the procoxae, surface feebly concave, finely rugose arms hardly embracing the sides of the median lobe; and with a long hyaline pubescence. Ventral side ventral sclerite of sternite IX as in Figure 39. of body with sparse and thin setae present on the Spermatheca as in Figure 42; vagina without whole surface. evident sclerotizations; styli short, moderately thin, Mesoventrite nearly 1.7 times longer than wide sclerotized, spiculum gastrale thin and moderately between the mesocoxae, surface nearly flat in middle, long (Fig. 43). finely rugose and with a long hyaline pubescence;

72 Figs 36-43. Colasposoma (C.) collare sp. nov. 36-41. M holotype; 36. aedeagus, dorsal view; 37. aedeagus, lateral view; 38. tegmen; 39. ventral sclerite of sternite IX; 40. left protarsus; 41. left antenna. 42-43. W paratype; 42. sperma theca; 43. genital segment.

73 Derivatio nominis. From the Latin “collare”, highlight- median line; surface with a fine sparse punctation, ing the different coloration of pronotum with respect the distance between two adjacent punctures is to the elytra. nearly two/three times the diameter of a puncture, Comparative notes. Colasposoma (C.) collare sp. nov. punctation is stronger near the distal border of the shows a peculiar coloration of elytra, combined with frons, glabrous, with a fine, but obvious microreticu- the metallic green pronotum. C. (C.) suturale sp. nov. lation; eyes large, strongly convex, protuberant, the here described has a similar pattern of spots on elytra, space between the inner border of the eyes in frontal nevertheless in this species the spots are of different view is nearly 2.5 times the width of an eye in MM, colour, with less metallic characteristics, the spot 3.5 times in WW; ocular sulci moderately impressed, along the suture is wider on elytral mid-length, the thin, short (their length nearly equal to the length st spots in the sub-basal impressions are rounded, the of the 1 antennomere), a seta is inserted above the spots on the apical slope are missing; moreover it proximal border of the eye; clypeus not distinct from has a smaller body size, less wide and less convex the frons, with a moderately strong punctation, the pronotum, protibiae proportionally shorter and less punctures in large part confluent, slightly pubescent, bent inwards, different aedeagic characteristics. distal border regularly concave. Inner border of the In the shape of pronotum C. (C.) collare sp. nov. antennal toruli raised in an oblong rounded carina. recalls C. (C.) flavipes Harold, 1877 (Natal; syntypes Penultimate article of maxillary palp nearly 1.6 times examined at the Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin) longer than wide, the ultimate conical, nearly 2.2 and C. (C.) fulvipes Lefèvre, 1877 (Cap de Bonne-Es- times longer than wide and 1.6 times longer than the pérance and Natal; syntypes examined at the Musée penultimate. Antennae (Fig. 49) slender, reaching the National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris) although these apical slope of the elytra in M, a little shorter in W. th th two taxa have the body and dorsum entirely metal- Antennomeres slender, 5 -11 moderately widened lic green and they are both bigger in size (6 mm). at the apex. Length of the antennomeres of the left antenna of the M holotype (right antenna is missing antennomeres 9th-11th), in mm: 0.19-0.09-0.22-0.25- Pathius daccordii sp. nov. 0.28-0.31-0.33-0.33-0.32-0.30-0.32; length/width Figs 11-13, 44-51 ratio: 2.1-1.3-3.8-4.0-4.1-4.5-4.2-4.5-4.0-3.6-4.2. Pronotum sub-cylindrical, nearly 1.2 times wider Type specimens. Holotype M (ZSM): Malawi/Viphya than long in MM (1.30 × 2.20 mm in the holotype), 1.3 Mts. (1512 m) 20 km S Mzimba S 12°00.0' / E 033°39.8' times wider than long in WW, the maximum width at 25.XII.2009 leg. L. Friedman [printed white label]; Holo- about mid length; the base finely bordered through- typus Pathius daccordii n. sp. S. Zoia det. 2018 [printed out, a little wider than the distal edge; distal edge red label]. – Paratypes (4 MM, 4 WW): Malawi/Viphya bordered only at sides; sides of pronotum with a Mts. (1512 m) 20 km S Mzimba S 12°00.0' / E 033°39.8' narrow regular border, not visible from above in its 25.XII.2009 leg. L. Friedman (1 W ZSM; 1 W MDcoll; 2 MM, distal third; surface of pronotum with impressed, ir- 1 W MLcoll; 2 MM, 1 W SZcoll). regularly arranged punctation, the distance between Diagnosis. A Pathius Aslam, 1968 with uniformly two adjacent punctures on the discus irregular, from coloured dorsum, sub-cylindrical prothorax, punc- 1 to 3 times the diameter of a puncture; the surface tation of elytra in large part confuse, elytra with between the punctures with a fine evident micro moderately long, thin and raised pubescence. reticulation, glabrous. Corners of base of pronotum protruded in a small tooth, the distal corners slightly Description protruded, each with a seta. Scutellum in a bell-shape, a little wider at base Habitus as in Figures 11-12; body length of the M than long, surface with a fine microreticulation. holotype 3.1 mm, of the MM paratypes 3.0-3.4 mm, Surface of hypomera smooth, with a very fine of the WW paratypes 3.2-3.7 mm. microreticulation, the distal margin slightly concave, Body from ocher brown to almost black (in the not separated from the edge of prosternum which is holotype and other specimens); hypomera ocher regularly concave. Prosternum narrow, in its mid- brown; head and dorsum ocher brown; labrum and line 4.4 times longer than wide between the procoxae, palpi yellow ocher, mandibles ocher brow with the surface longitudinally convex, lightly punctate and apices dark brown; antennae yellow ocher at base, with a few long hyaline setae. Ventral side of body th th segments 6 -11 dark brown; legs entirely yellow with scarce and thin setae present mostly on the ocher. abdominal sternites. Frons (Fig. 13) large, slightly concave in its Mesoventrite nearly 3.8 times longer than wide middle in M, nearly flat in W, convex at apex and between the mesocoxae, proximally in an anchor- sides, with a light longitudinal sulcus along the shape, surface with a very light punctation and a

74 Figs 44-51. Pathius daccordii sp. nov. 44-49. M holotype; 44. aedeagus, dorsal view; 45. aedeagus, lateral view; 46. tegmen; 47. ventral sclerite of sternite IX; 48. left protarsus; 49. left antenna. 50-51. W paratype; 50. spermatheca; 51. genital segment.

75 hyaline pubescence; mesocoxae nearly so close to Comparative notes. Pathius daccordii sp. nov. close- each other as the procoxae; mesoepimera smooth, ly resembles P. pallidus (Weise, 1912) (Kamerun: with a fine microreticulation. Metaventrite wide, in Musake; syntype examined at the Museum für its middle nearly 2.8 times longer than the space be- Naturkunde, Berlin), and even more P. tanganikanus tween the metacoxae, smooth, not visibly punctured; (Burgeon, 1941b) (Rep. Pop. Congo: Baudoinville, metacoxae a little more spaced than mesocoxae; Moba and Kigoma; holotype examined at the Musée metathoracic episterna tapering to rear, nearly 3 royal de l’Afrique centrale, Tervuren), which has the times longer than wide, with a fine microreticula- same slightly concave frons and oblong antennal tion, glabrous. joints. P. pallidus differs from P. daccordii sp. nov. Elytra oblong, nearly vertical at sides, 1.5 times in the convex frons, glabrous elytra with punctures longer than wide (in the holotype: elytral length nearly regularly arranged in longitudinal striae in dorsal view 2.15 mm, distance from the base of except behind the humeral calli, antennal joints scutellum to elytral apex 2.25 mm; width at humeri stouter, the 3rd nearly 1.5 times longer than the 2nd, 1.32 mm, maximum width 1.42 mm); humeri slightly male pro- and mesotarsi wider. In P. tanganikanus prominent, rounded, smooth, covering the elytral the elytra are more convex dorsally, glabrous, with border in dorsal view; elytral sides a little widening punctures more regularly arranged in longitudinal from the humeri to the apical slope, then regularly striae, the 7th interstria convex, slightly raised. bent till the apices; apices in a nearly right angle. Elytral punctation denser than on pronotum, the distance between two adjacent punctures on average Lefevrea fabianae sp. nov. narrower than the diameter of a puncture; punctation Figs 14-17, 52-59 confusedly arranged with traces of irregular striae. Elytral surface smooth, with a fine, moderately long Type specimens. Holotype W (ZSM): Malawi/Nyika N. and diffuse hyaline pubescence. Elytral borders P. (2222 m) Zambian Rest House S 10°34.4' / E 033°42.3' narrow, except for a short space behind the humeri 30.XII.2009 leg. L. Friedman [printed white label]; Holo- where they are wider and visible in dorsal view at typus Pathius daccordii n. sp. S. Zoia det. 2018 [printed red label]. – Paratypes (1 M, 1 W): Malawi/Nyika N. P. the same time. Epipleura relatively wide from their (2222 m) Zambian Rest House S 10°34.4' / E 033°42.3' base to nearly mid-length, gradually tapering to 30.XII.2009 leg. L. Friedman (1 W MLcoll; 1 M SZcoll). rear, nearly vertical in a large part of their length, glabrous, smooth, impunctate. Diagnosis. A Lefevrea Jacoby, 1897, dark coloured, Metathoracic wings fully developed. with only a few metallic hues on dorsum, and ocher Legs long, slender; femora moderately swollen, brown legs, sides of pronotum strongly widened at each with a small acute median tooth; pro- and about mid-length, punctation of pronotum ocellate, metatibiae straight, longer than the mesotibiae; me elytron with a longitudinal low carina from behind sotibiae slightly bent inwards; meso- and metatibiae the humerus to the elytral slope. not emarginate near the apex, the outer edge of mesotibiae slightly sinuate before the apex. Protarsi Description slightly widened in MM (Fig. 48). Claws appendicu- Habitus as in Figures 14-15; body length of the W late, with the wider basal part reaching nearly half- holotype 3.1 mm, of the M paratype 2.8 mm, of the length of the claw. W paratype 2.7 mm. Aedeagus as in Figures 44-45; tegmen (Fig. 46) Body black, including hypomera; head black, the very thin, poorly sclerotized, distally with very frons with a large reddish spot in its middle, clypeus short lateral arms; ventral sclerite of sternite IX as black with distal part reddish; labrum and palpi in Figure 47. yellow ocher, mandibles ocher brow with darker Spermatheca as in Figure 50; vagina without apices; antennae with segments 1st-5th or 1st-6th evident sclerotizations; styli short, moderately yellow ocher, from the 6th or 7th to 11th dark brown thin, sclerotized, spiculum gastrale short, poorly to black; pronotum black, elytra black with a light sclerotized (Fig. 51). metallic hue, the W holotype and M paratype with a Derivatio nominis. The species is named after my large reddish spot (with not well defined margins) friend Mauro Daccordi, acknowledged as Chrysomeli- on the sub-basal impression of the elytron, the W nae specialist, who, many years ago, initiated me to the paratype with entirely black elytra; legs entirely study of the Chrysomelidae. ocher brown. Frons (Fig. 17) large, regularly convex, with a clean longitudinal sulcus along the median line; surface with a sparse punctation, punctures moder-

76 Figs 52-59. Lefevrea fabianae sp. nov. 52-57. M paratype; 52. aedeagus, dorsal view; 53. aedeagus, lateral view; 54. tegmen; 55. ventral sclerite of sternite IX; 56. left protarsus; 57. left antenna. 58-59. W holotype; 58. spermatheca; 59. genital segment.

77 ately deep, their bottom flat, nearly uniform on the Mesoventrite nearly as long as wide between whole surface, the distance between two adjacent the mesocoxae, surface lightly punctate-rugose punctures nearly as large as the diameter of a punc- and with a hyaline pubescence; mesocoxae a lit- ture, glabrous, with a fine obvious microreticulation; tle more spaced to each other than the procoxae; eyes large, strongly convex, protuberant, the space mesoepimera smooth, with a fine microreticulation. between the inner border of the eyes in frontal view Metaventrite wide, in its middle nearly as long as is nearly 2.5 times the width of an eye in M, 2.7 times the space between the metacoxae, smooth, with a in WW; ocular sulci deep, slightly wider above the light punctation; metacoxae a little more spaced proximal border of the eye where they bear a seta, than mesocoxae; metathoracic episterna tapering to closely following the proximal borders of the eyes rear, nearly 3.3 times longer than wide, with a fine and the inner limits of the antennal toruli, up to the evident microreticulation, glabrous. clypeus; clypeus barely distinct from the frons by the Elytra oblong, nearly vertical at sides, 1.2 times presence of a denser punctation of the exoskeleton, longer than wide (in the holotype: elytral length distally with a finer punctation and a few setae, in dorsal view 2.17 mm, distance from the base of distal border regularly concave. Penultimate article scutellum to elytral apex 2.50 mm; width at humeri of maxillary palp nearly as long as wide, the ultimate 1.62 mm, maximum width 1.80 mm), glabrous; conical, nearly 2 times longer than wide and 2 times humeri moderately prominent, rounded, smooth, longer than the penultimate. Antennae (Fig. 57) covering the elytral border in dorsal view; elytral moderately slender, reaching the basal third of the sides a little widening from the humeri to the apical elytra. Antennomeres oblong, 7th-11th a little wider. slope, then regularly bent till the apices; apices in a Length of the antennomeres of the left antenna of nearly right angle. Elytral punctation moderately im- the W holotype, in mm: 0.19-0.12-0.15-0.18-0.21- pressed on the whole surface, arranged in 14 nearly 0.20-0.22-0.21-0.20-0.19-0.24; length/width ratio: regular striae (the 11th partly doubled) of punctures 1.9-2.0-3.1-3.3-3.3-2.9-3.1-3.2-2.9-2.3-3.3. very close to each other; elytral interstriae nearly flat Pronotum (Fig. 16) transverse, nearly 1.6 times on the discus and on the median part of the apical wider than long (0.85 × 1.32 mm in the holotype), slope, more or less convex elsewhere, the 10th inter- the maximum width slightly before mid-length; the stria elevated in a carina going from the humerus to base finely bordered throughout, a little wider than almost the elytral apex, this carina is more elevated the distal edge; distal edge shortly bordered only at in W; interstriae 11th-13th convex in M, more so in W, sides; sides of pronotum strongly widened in the particularly the 11th; interstriae smooth, with a fine middle, describing a large rounded angle, with a microreticulation. Elytral borders moderately wide narrow regular border, partly visible from above; behind the humeri and visible in dorsal view at the surface of pronotum with moderately impressed, same time up to nearly elytral mid-length. Epipleura irregularly arranged punctation, the punctures flat relatively narrow at base, gradually tapering to rear, at their bottom, ocellate, closer to each other and a glabrous, impunctate. little wider than on head, the distance between two Metathoracic wings fully developed. adjacent punctures shorter than the diameter of a Legs moderately long; femora slightly swollen, puncture; the surface between the punctures with unarmed; pro- and metatibie straight, longer than a fine evident microreticulation, glabrous. Corners the mesotibiae; mesotibiae slightly bent inwards of pronotum protruded in a small tooth, each with (WW) or nearly straight (M); meso- and metatibiae not a seta. emarginate apically, the outer edge of mesotibiae Scutellum in a bell-shape, 1.4 times wider at base slightly sinuate before the apex. Pro- and mesotarsi than long, surface with a fine microreticulation and with the 1st article widened in M (Fig. 56). Claws ap- very light punctation. pendiculate, wide open, the wider basal part reaching Surface of hypomera with a fine microreticula- nearly half-length of the claw. tion, sub-rugose, the distal margin concave, not Aedeagus as in Figures 52-53; tegmen (Fig. 54) separated from the edge of prosternum which is a very thin, poorly sclerotized, distally with short lat- little bent downwards. Prosternum narrow, in its eral arms; ventral sclerite of sternite IX as in Figure 55. mid-line 2.1 times longer than wide between the Spermatheca as in Figure 58; vagina without evi- procoxae, surface nearly flat, punctate-rugose and dent sclerotizations; styli short, sclerotized, spiculum with sparse moderately long hyaline setae. Ventral gastrale relatively long, poorly sclerotized (Fig. 59). side of body with sparse and thin setae present on Derivatio nominis. I dedicate the new taxon to my the whole surface. wife Fabiana, who always encourages my entomological studies and always takes part with interest in field researches.

78 Comparative notes. Lefevrea is a large genus never – – 1941. New species of African Chrysomelidae (Col.). examined as a whole, at present ranging 70 de- The Proceedings of the Royal Entomological Society scribed taxa, being most of them poorly known. In of London, Series B, Taxonomy 10: 209-211. comparison with the other known species of the Burgeon, L. 1940. Description de nouvelles Lefevrea genus, L. fabianae sp. nov. is well characterized by (Col. Chrysom. Eumolp.) du Congo belge. Revue de Zoologie et de Botanique Africaines 34 (1): 47-57. the shape of pronotum, with a dense ocellate punc- – – 1941a. Les Colasposoma et les Euryope du Congo tation, and the presence on elytra of a longitudinal Belge (Coléop. Chrysomel. Eumolp.). Mémoires de carina from behind the humeri to the apical slope. l’Institut Royal Colonial Belge 10 (5): 1-43. A similar shape of pronotum is present in L. car- – – 1941b. Nouveaux Eumolpides (Col. Chrysom.) des penteri Bryant, 1932 (Uganda: Gulu; type examined collections du Musée du Congo belge. Revue de at the Natural History Museum, London) which Zoologie et de Botanique Africaines 34: 168-191. differs in the reddish-ocher coloration, with darker Harold, E. v. 1877. Coleopterorum species novae. Mit- elytral suture and sides, punctation of pronotum teilungen des Münchener Entomologischen Vereins non ocellate, absence of raised interstriae on the 1: 97-111. elytra. In L. unifasciata Pic, 1939 (Angola: Elende; Jacoby, M. 1904. Another contribution to the knowledge holotype examined at the Musée National d’Histoire of African phytophagous Coleoptera. Proceedings of the Zoological Society, London, 1: 230-270. Naturelle, Paris) pronotum is even more widened Kuntzen, H. 1913. Zur Kenntnis der afrikanischen Co- in middle, with more regularly bent sides, except rynoden (Coleopt. Chrysomelidae). I. Archiv für at base where they are more strongly restricted, Naturgeschichte 79, A (7): 78-132. punctation of pronotum fine, elytra reddish-brown Lefèvre, E. 1877. Descriptions de coléoptères nouveaux with base and a transversal wide stripe behind ou peu connus de la famille des Eumolpides. An- mid-length dark brown. A more similar puncta- nales de la Société Entomologique de France, 5e tion of pronotum is in L. rotundata Burgeon, 1940 Série, 7: 309-326. (Haut-Uele: Aru; holotype and paratypes examined – – 1890. Description of new species of South African at the Musée royal de l’Afrique centrale, Tervuren), Eumolpidae. Transactions of the South African however the punctures are more superficial and less Philosophical Society, Cape Town 6: 39-43. dense; under other aspects L. rotundata strongly dif- Pic, M. 1939. Coléoptères phytophages d’Angola. Revue Suisse de Zoologie 46 (4): 115-142. fers in the bigger size, different shape of body with Weise, J. 1910. Chrysomelidae und Coccinellidae. Pp. more convex and bent sided elytra, uniformly dark 153-266, pl. 4 in: Sjöstedt, Y. (ed.) Wissenschaftli- metallic coloration, flat elytral interstriae. L. costulata che Ergebnisse der Schweizerischen Zoologischen Weise, 1910 (Kilimandjaro), with elytral interstriae Expedition nach dem Kilimandjaro, dem Meru und 9th and 11th forming two carinae, is unknown to me den umgebenden Massaisteppen Deutsch-Ostafri- in nature; yet, based on the original description, kas 1905-1906, Vol. 1. Stockholm (P. Palmquists). this species greatly differs from L. fabianae sp. nov. – – 1912. Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Chrysomeliden. in coloration, glossy dorsum, finer punctation of Archiv für Naturgeschichte, Berlin, 78A (2): 76-98. pronotum that vanishes towards the lateral edges, – – 1914. Coleoptera I: Chrysomelidae und Coccinell elytra with 12 striae of punctures. idae. Pp. 251-275 in: Michaelsen W. (ed.) Beiträ- ge zur Kenntnis der Land- und Süsswasserfauna Deutsch-Südwestafrikas. Ergebnisse der Hambur- ger deutsch-südwestafrikanischen Studienreise Acknowledgements 1911. Hamburg (L. Friederichsen & Co.). Zoia, S. 2007. A revision of the Pachnephorus from the My thanks to Michael Langer, who provided me the Afrotropical region (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae). material object of the present contribution, and to Fragmenta Entomologica, Roma 39 (1): 1-156. Mauro Daccordi for his usual generosity in exchanging – – 2009. A revision of the genus Mecistes (Coleoptera opinions, criticism and friendship. Chrysomelidae). Memorie della Società Entomo- logica Italiana, Genova 88: 117-154. – – 2012. Eumolpinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) of References Socotra Island. Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae, 52 (Suppl. 2): 449-501. Bryant, G. E. 1932. New species of African Eumolpidae – – 2018. African Eumolpinae site (Coleoptera Chryso (Coleoptera, Phytophaga). Annals and Magazine of melidae). World Wide Web electronic publication. Natural History, Series 10, 10: 185-199. http://www.chrysomelidae.it/afr_Eum/ [accessed December 2018].